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REMARKS 



«N THE 



BY A LOVER OF TRUTH. 



PHTLJWELPHM.' 

SBINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, 
1823. 



PREFACE. 



The following essay was written with no intention 
to publication, nor the least design to excite contro- 
versy, but merely to concentrate a few of the leading 
arguments, which had influenced the author's mind, 
in adopting the sentiments he now believes to be cor- 
rect; and they are offered to others under the idea, 
that they may have a tendency to produce an exami- 
nation still farther, into the subjects to which this 
sheet is only an introduction. 

The period had arrived when those questions which 
have been settled by " Councils" and Courts, and 
have influenced the practice of the majority of men, 
are to pass under solemn review with an increased 
degree of light and a better knowledge of the con- 
stituent principles of the human mind. And the dis- 
cussion, as well as the result, will doubtless be in 
accordance with the spirit and freedom of the age in 
which we live. 

Philadelphia, 5th Mo. 2Qth 9 1823. 



BBiaAifiisLS. 



There are few subjects of more interest, or which 
more generally agitate the world, than the opinions 
entertained by Christian professors, concerning the 
meaning of scripture testimony respecting the prac- 
tice and doctrine of Jesus Christ, (or translated Je- 
sus, the anointed.) 

This diversity of sentiment is confined to no class 
or sect ; but all who believe they are convinced of the 
truth of Christianity, have in some degree entered 
into religious controversy, to enforce the peculiar 
doctrine which their education and prejudice have 
impressed on their minds. And did this conduct 
originate in a desire to find the path in which it 
would best comport with the duty of man to walk, it 
might perhaps, produce no injurious effect : because 
each who examined the subject would bring the evi- 
dence which was conclusive to himself. And if, on 
examination by others, it were more so to them than 
that to which they had before assented, they would 
admit it with equal satisfaction, let it come from 
what quarter it might, because truth, and truth on- 
ly, would be the object of pursuit. 

But the fact is widely different. — The various de- 
fenders of Christian doctrine, are arrayed in pow- 



6 

erful phalanx against each other. System after sys- 
tem is pulled down and destroyed, and others are 
erected on the ruins, which can only stand until they 
are more powerfully attacked, and in turn these are 
subverted. Thus all is agitation and uncertainty — 
nothing is found substantial, and the mind which is 
sincerely employed in the search after truth among 
these perishable materials, is embarrassed and con- 
fused, till it is ready to conclude that it does not ex- 
ist — or if it exist at all, that it can only be found 
beyond the grave. 

It happens at this moment that the prominent sub- 
ject of disputation, is that of the Unity of God, (or 
the existence of only One Supreme Ruler of the Uni- 
verse.) and the existence of Three co-equal and dis- 
tinct beings under the title of Father, Son, and Ho- 
ly Spirit, (applying the second to the person of Je- 
sus Christ,) generally termed the Trinity. While 
the advocates of these doctrines continue their de- 
pendence upon scripture passages, they will doubt- 
less find ample means for their defence: — and while 
each adheres closely to his profession, they will re- 
main equally distant from truth ; for instead of con- 
vincing, or being convinced, they so completely 
hedge themselves in by absurdity and error, that 
" were one to rise from the dead they would not be- 
lieve." But were the minds of the people turned 
more inward, and were they convinced of the truth 
of Paul's declaration, " That what is to be known of 
God is manifest in man," there would be less depen- 



deuce on the subtle reasonings of human ingenuity — 
and being turned from the systems which have been 
formed by the wisdom of man — they would in the si- 
lence of all flesh be taught by the immediate spirit 
of God in the secret of their own hearts. And one 
reason why they will not turn to this principle with- 
in, is the outward manner in which they are accus- 
tomed to speak and think of the Father — the Son — 
and the Holy Spirit. — Instead of regarding them in 
their relative connexion with each other; and while 
the same in their natures, different only in their ope- 
ration, they are divided and personified under the 
appellations appropriated to them in the figurative 
language of Scripture. 

All profess to believe in one omnipotent being, 
who presides over and governs the Universe — who 
from his love to the world, sent his only begotten 
into it, that by him (or more properly by it, as will 
be shown hereafter,) he might draw the children of 
men from the paths of disobedience, that they might 
come "to glorify and enjoy him forever." This is 
the doctrine of the Bible, and it is altogether conso- 
nant with revelation which is understood by the spi- 
ritual enquirer into the nature of God, often errone- 
ously called the mystery of the godhead. But the 
difficulty lies in the misunderstanding, and the mis- 
interpretation of terms. 

By this omnipotent God is meant, the spirit or 
the word which was in the beginning, and by which 
every thing was made, that was made. The great 



supporting principle of every thing that exists, and 
from its very nature is every where. But when for 
a moment the feelings and passions of man are attri- 
buted to this self-existent spirit, and a local habita- 
tion called the heavens is assigned to it, man for- 
gets his own insignificance, and at once begins to 
measure immensity, and to limit omniscience. And 
though the language of Scripture may allow this 
personification of the Deity, and speak of his anger, 
his love, liis vengeance, &c, yet it certainly can in 
no way, be an apology for such application at the 
present time, except to describe the manner in which 
his spirit operates on tin' unregenerate mind. 

In the infancy of language, metaphors and per- 
sonifications were always used to express the ideas 
of the writer or speaker, and it can be no matter of 
surprise that they were applied to this purpose in the 
Scriptures, when we consider, they were addressed 
to an ignorant and comparatively barbarous people, 
in whom it was as natural to apply their own feel- 
ings to the Deity, in expressing their ideas of him, 
as it is for the modern Indian to point to his para- 
dise beyond the hills, and fancy he hears the voice 
of the Great Spirit in the thunder. These are the 
effects of ignorance; and though the divinely in- 
spired writers might have a more spiritual under- 
standing of the God they worshipped, yet as they 
were addressing an ignorant people, there was no 
other way of conveying to them the commandments 
of God, than by using such outward figures as they 



could understand from their own application. So 
that if we strip the Divinity of these relics of bar- 
barism, we shall view it in the light of an omnipre- 
sent, eternal, and self-existent PRINCIPLE. 

This confusion is increased by the misunderstand- 
ing of the character and nature of the Son of God, 
for this term is generally applied to the person of 
Jesus Christ, and however he might, by his faithful 
adherence to divine manifestations, have been enti- 
tled to it, yet it does not exclusively belong to him, 
nor is it always so applied in the Scriptures : for it 
is used in the book of Genesis, (6th, 4,) in speaking 
of a whole race. So that, instead of applying it to 
individual persons, it only indicates a state, where 
purity and piety are the predominant and solely 
operative springs of action, and whoever attains 
thereunto becomes the Son of God. But in regard 
to the anointing principle called Christ, by which 
the highest state of human perfection is begun, which 
was fully exemplified in the life of Jesus of Naza- 
reth — this indeed was, and is the begotten of God : 
and if the begotten, then the Son. For by the ope- 
ration of the spirit of God upon the heart of man 
the spiritual image is thereon impressed, by abiding 
in which, its possessor is enabled to become perfect 
as God in Heaven is perfect, agreeably to the com- 
mands in the language of his own inspiration.^ 

* This perfection by no means implies an equality with God, 
but a state of mind wherein man mav be as perfect in his nature 
according- to the measure of this spirit given him, as God is in 
his divine nature. 



10 

Thus all who have been saved from their sins, from 
the foundation of the world, have been redeemed on- 
ly by Christ, the mediate influence of God on man. 
It was this that actuated Abraham, Isaac, am! ma- 
ny others in the first ages of the world ; and in 
speaking of which it is said that whosoever climbeth 
up some other way, and entereth not by the door, 
(which is Christ,) are thieves and robbers —and on 
the contrary, whoever yield themselves to its influ- 
ence, and are obedient to the manifestations of the 
light, have "power to become the Sons of God." 

That this was not a new principle at the birth of 
Jesus is apparent from the expression of Paul that 
the spiritual Rock which followed Israel was Christ. 
1 Cor. 10, 4. And when we consider it is this princi- 
ple which governs all nature; and there are different 
properties of nature to be operated upon, it is neces- 
sary to define each clearly that there should be distinct 
terms to express this influence. Thus, that which 
acts upon man is called * Christ — that which acts 
upon the brute is called instinct, and that which gives 
verdure to the fields, warmth to the sun, and splen- 
dour to the arch of heaven is simply nature ; but who 
who will assert that it requires less effort of power 
to retain all these in their order and perpetuate the 
variety of the seasons, than it does to change the af- 



* Christ is an abbreviation of the Greek adjective "anointed," 
though used as a proper name in the New Testament, and can on- 
ly be applied to rational creatures. See Rees' Cyclopedia, Art 

Christ. 



11 

fcctions of man and renew him up unto eternal life! ! 
Yet this is the sole object of God in visiting him by 
his spirit — for which in the figurative language of 
scripture, Christ was sent into the world. 

Far be it from me to detract from the character of the 
great pattern of human perfection, to whom the tried 
and desolate soul can look and always derive consola- 
tion in the belief, that as he possessed all the feelings 
which we possess — was tried and tempted in all 
points as we are., and overcame all these trials and 
temptations — We also may overcome the same, and 
be joined with him to God. But would that I could 
dissipate that cloud of darkness and superstitious 
reverence which prevents his sublime and pure ex- 
ample from having the effect intended by the Author 
of good in giving to man One, in whose steps they 
might walk and like him become the anointed and 
glorified sons of the Father. But so strong is the 
tendency of the human mind to erect its own stand- 
ard and walk by its own light, that in the confusion 
thus created, the voice of God is unheeded and un- 
heard — And while many are disputing about doc- 
trines and bringing the authority of the Scriptures 
to support theories which the imagination of man 
has devised, little is thought about practising accord- 
ing to the precepts these scriptures enforce; or ad- 
vancing still farther than those did of whom they 
testify, by following the same unerring guide, which 
sealed upon their minds the substance of what is 
written. 

A LOVER OF TRUTH. 



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